DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF GMELINA ARBOREA BASED PHYTOSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM
Madhu Pal, Prashant Maithil, Satkar Prasad
ABSTRACT
The present study was undertaken to develop and evaluate phytosomes of the ethanolic extract of Gmelina arborea in order to improve the encapsulation, stability, and release characteristics of its bioactive phytoconstituents. The leaves were extracted using ethanol, yielding 9.50% w/w extract. Preliminary phytochemical screening confirmed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carbohydrates, saponins, and tannins, while quantitative analysis revealed total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 0.856 mg/100 mg and 0.921 mg/100 mg, respectively. Twelve phytosomal formulations (F1–F12) were prepared using the solvent evaporation method by optimizing phospholipid, cholesterol, extract concentration, and solvent volume. The prepared phytosomes were evaluated for particle size, entrapment efficiency, morphology, in vitro drug release, release kinetics, and stability. Among all formulations, F10 was identified as the optimized formulation, exhibiting the smallest particle size (198.6 nm) and the highest entrapment efficiency (91.82%). Transmission Electron Microscopy confirmed the formation of discrete, spherical phytosomal vesicles with smooth surfaces. The optimized formulation showed sustained drug release, achieving 98.12% cumulative release within 12 hours. Drug release kinetics followed the first-order model (R² = 0.9944), indicating concentration-dependent release with diffusion-controlled behavior. Stability studies conducted under long-term and accelerated storage conditions for three months demonstrated no significant changes in physical appearance, particle size, entrapment efficiency, or drug content, confirming the stability of the optimized formulation. The findings indicate that phytosomal encapsulation is an effective strategy for enhancing the physicochemical properties, stability, and sustained release of Gmelina arborea phytoconstituents, making it a promising herbal drug delivery system for future therapeutic applications.
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